It was a strange sensation, being cursed.

As the colonists trailed after Shri-Rah, scattering once they've reached the three-story building that was to be their new home, Yvaine lagged behind, so consumed by her thoughts that she all but stopped paying heed to her surroundings. When she officially stepped foot on Ialdia, she felt the land's curse seep into her every being, as she was sure it did everyone else. She braced herelf for pain--it was a curse, after all, and she thought it was only appropriate to expect the worst--but it proved to be a fruitless effort. It lasted all of a second, painless and fleeting, like a shiver that runs down one's spine and nothing more. There were no tangible manifestations, just a strange sensation unlike she had ever felt before.

The others seemed to take things in stride, and so Yvaine forced herself to brush away any lingering thoughts about it. There were more important matters at hand now. She turned to her side to look for Luch, and only then realized how far she had strayed from the group. Most of the colonists were already settling in the inn, yet here she was, standing idly by the riverbank. Gathering her skirts, Yvaine made her way to the building, hastening her pace as she recalled Shri-Rah's earlier warnings. 

"Luch?" she called out as she reached the inn, looking around her for childhood friend.

On the contrary, though, Luch was actually behind them, at the very edge of the cursed land where water lapped at his boots. He stood there, stricken and mute, staring at the land before them and his chest rising and falling rapidly, heaving.

What he surmised to be the effects of the curse itself on him were neglible at most. That had not concerned him. What transfixed him so was the sensation of an 'episode' mingling with it, being both bolstered, triggered and eased in a swirling mixture. Just the land itself was effecting it, and he had no idea in what way as it grew worse and better by turns, slowly milding to a common middle-ground.

Luched stood there for several minutes before sharpening the focus of his vision again. He finally [i]truly[/i] took his surroundings in and not merely the feeling before him. Yet, to the eyes, it seemed a plain beach, albeit empty save for the inn in sight.

And, on that note, he had best set up there already. Yvaine had already raced off after him, thinking he was ahead of her, he thought as he began carrying his light baggage towards the encampment. It was unkind of him to have let her do that, yet the feelings had beckoned him too strongly. He supposed he'd have to perform something for her to make up for it.

Luched sighed.

"Oh!"

Yvaine let out a barely audible gasp when she nearly bumped into Luched, who seemingly manifested right behind her. After she had twice circled the perimeter of the inn and saw no trace of him, she had admittedly begun to fret, unable to quell thoughts of dragons and skarves from surfacing despite realizing its absurdity. Luckily, it would seem that Luch was graced with impeccable timing. He always appeared when she needed him.

"There you are," she said after she had regained her composure, her surprised gasp seamlessly transitioning into a sigh of relief. Her lips quirked into a small smile as she looked him over--absurd or not, she still thought it wise to check if he was unharmed--and noticed his skin no longer bore a sickly pallor. "Looking much better."

"Shall we get settled, then?" Yvaine beckoned toward the inn, subtly readjusting the strap of the satchel slung over her shoulders in an attempt to shift its weight from one side to the other. She brought with her few possessions, perhaps even too few, as she was beginning to realize, yet she still felt burdened by its heft. Yvaine bristled inwardly, shamed by her display of feebleness, and made a quiet vow to strengthen herself in the coming days. Luch needn't a bond who would only serve as a liability.

"Aye," he nodded, hefting his own leather bag. He paused for a moment, sucking his lower lip at her blatant display of idolization; useful as it may be, it also showed some lack of maturity and realism, and he didn't [i]like[/i] manipulating her, besides. And then there was just the simple uncomfortableness he felt about being on her pedestal. Damn, he wished she'd grow up. Then again, being with him might lead to exactly that-and, hopefully, a noble with some [i]integrity[/i].

"First things first; we're going to be living here for at least a while, and in this land even longer. Best to get settled and prepared. Besides," he said, managing a small, if somewhat irked smile, "I'm really hungry."

"Ah, yes, I'm famished, as well." Yvaine smiled in return, wide and sincere. It had been far too long since she had last seen him crack even a ghost of smile, perhaps even before they'd gone their separate ways as children; it was a welcome sight. 

As she pushed through the oaken door and entered the inn, Yvaine found herself stealing glances at her bond, her brief reminiscing setting off even deeper contemplation. It occurred to her that only days have passed since she ran away from home, days one can count on fingers. In truth, so much has happened in so little time that she had yet to properly register anything. Up until now, her sense of curiosity and longing for adventure (even her utter excitement over reuniting with Luch, if she were being completely honest) have been driving her thoughts and actions. Her mind was only now beginning to catch up.

A million and one questions surfaced in her thoughts then--about Luch, Ialdia, the curse, their bond. "What have we for a meal?" she asked instead.

Luch gaped at her as if she had just asked what her own name was. "It's an [i]inn[/i]," he said flatly. "Food and bed in one place, usually-and certainly both when there's no restaurants nearby, as there likely aren't here. I was in as much of a rush as you when we left, I told you that. I don't have any food on me, nor do I imagine do you. I was going to buy something here."

Yvaine nodded distractedly, forcibly pushing her barrage of questions away. There would be time for that later; she best focus on their present predicaments and that only. She nodded again, this time resolutely, and looked about the room, noting the other colonists that were already there with passing curiosity. So this was an inn. She certainly knew what an inn was, although as with everything else, this would be her first time lodging in one. There would be no servants to prepare her meals here, nor handmaidens to rouse and help her in the mornings. Strangely, the thought both thrilled and intimidated her.

"Where can we purchase our meals?"

Luched closed his eyes and sighed. "At the bar, or tables if there's waiters and/or waitresses, which I'm betting there aren't. Let's go put our bags away first, though."

He approached the man attending the bar. "Pryhwn da," he said. The barkeeper looked at him blankly. "Good afternoon."

"Ah, yes, good afternoon. You'll be wanting the key to your room, right?: he said. Without waiting for an answer, he pulled out a pair of keys on a ring. "You'll be in the room on the second floor, last on the left."

"Thank you. What about her, though?" Luch asked, nodding his head to Yvaine. "She's staying here as well."

"Your rooms are in pairs. You'll have to share one."

Luch blanched. "Can I not rent another room at an additional fee?"

"No, that's the last available one we had. It's that or sleep outside on the ground."

Luch looked at him weakly, then sighed. "Alright. Thanks." He turned to Yvaine, dreading the conversation already. "Let's go put our things away."

Yvaine opened her mouth to speak, but as she turned to look at Luch, the words died on her lips. She tilted her head downward, eyes darting to the ground, and for a moment, she did nothing but stare intensely at where dirt clung to the side of her left boot. They were sharing a room, it seemed. Yvaine chewed on her lower lip, embarrassed at the giddy smile threatening to creep on her face despite her attempts to suppress it. Such unbecoming behavior she was displaying--she could practically see her governess scowling at the notion--and the inanity of it all was even worse. Here she was, in a cursed land with perils and wonders aplenty, and yet she was still concerned over something as trivial as sharing a room. If Luch knew what she was thinking about, he would certainly roll his eyes at her.

She waited until she regained her composure, pressing both hands to cool her still slightly burning cheeks, before heading toward the room they were allotted, pointedly not making eye contact with her bond or anyone else.

"Let's."